Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 April 28, 2007
Box Score
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Pitcher Lauren Ross threw the first no-hitter of her career helping Western Carolina softball split the Southern Conference doubleheader with Georgia Southern Saturday at the Catamount Complex. The Catamounts won the opening game 4-0 and fell in the second game 5-0. Western Carolina plays its final home game of the season when the Catamounts host Georgia Southern at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Ross sat down 12 consecutive batters before a walk upset her attempt at a perfect game. She gave up two walks and struck out four to improve her season total to 99. Ross is now 10-7 on the year. She also hit her 10th homerun of the season and 21st of her career, which ties the school record for homeruns in a career.
Western Carolina is 24-31 overall and 7-10 in the Southern Conference. Georgia Southern improves to 23-27 and 8-8 in conference play.
The Catamounts plated all four of their runs in the first game in the opening frame. Mendy McKenzie led off with a walk and advanced to second thanks to a sacrifice bunt by Nikki Bost. McKenzie scored when Stephanie Beatty hit an RBI double, her 12th of the season, which breaks the single-season record. An RBI single by Mollie Fowler brought Beatty around to score the second run of the inning. Ross helped her cause by launching a homerun over the left field wall to score herself and Fowler.
Western Carolina wasn't as fortunate in the second game. Starter Mendy McKenzie gave up four runs on five hits in 1.2 innings of work to put the Catamounts behind to start the game. She also took the loss and falls to 10-17 on the year.
Junior Savannah Filley relieved McKenzie in the second inning and closed out the game going 5.1 innings. Filley allowed one run on two hits and struck out two.
Georgia Southern scored two runs in the first inning thanks to a two-run homerun by the Eagles' Robyn Siliga and two additional runs in the second off a two RBI double by Heather Smith. The Eagles scored their fifth run of the game in the fifth inning off a solo homerun by Jenny Side.
